Airbus' Shift Towards Influencers and Shareholder Value Sparks Concern

Scott Hamilton, a veteran aviation reporter and former editor-at-large at Leeham News and Analysis (LNA), has expressed concern over disturbing trends he's observed at Airbus. These trends include the company's shift towards favoring young influencers over veteran journalists in its media outreach.

In 2023, Hamilton wrote an article criticizing Airbus for becoming complacent and arrogant after overtaking Boeing as the world's leading airplane manufacturer. He argued that Airbus was resting on its laurels while Boeing struggled to recover from the grounding of the 737 Max fleet.

Hamilton claims that since then, he has seen a significant change in Airbus' media strategy, with a focus on promoting the company as a cool place to work for young professionals rather than engaging with experienced journalists. He also notes that Airbus' responses to questions have become more ambiguous and less informative.

Additionally, Hamilton mentions that suppliers are now complaining about Airbus' increasing emphasis on shareholder value, which is causing them to prioritize profits over relationships and collaboration.